Simpson wins finale, share of IIAC title

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Amy Hamilton and Ali Sokol scored 13 points each as Simpson beat Dubuque 68-62 in the regular season finale at Stoltz Sports Center Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Storm (20-5, 13-3 IIAC) clinched their sixth-straight 20-win season and a share of the regular-season conference championship, their third in a row. 

Simpson finished the regular season tied with Coe (18-7, 13-3), but the Kohawks defeated Buena Vista 70-61Saturday and held the tiebreaker to earn the top seed in next week's Iowa Conference Championship.

Simpson will enter the tournament with the No. 2 seed, hosting the winner of Wartburg and Loras Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

Jennifer Nichols scored a game-high 18 points and nabbed seven steals to lead the Spartans (15-10, 9-7).

Leading 30-23 at the half, Simpson opened the second half on a 14-4 run, opening a 44-27 lead.

Simpson led by as much as 19 in the second half, before the Spartans mounted a late run.

A 21-6 spurt by Dubuque brought the Spartans within four with 53 seconds left, but Hamilton and Darrina Bledsoe each hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to seal the win.